Closure for milk-cans.



W. 0. NUSSBAUMER.

GLDSUBE FOR MILK CANS. APFLICATIGH HLEB IAN. 13,1916.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

STTES OFFIC naonosa.

Specification of Letters Patent.

CLOSURE ron MILK-CANS.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

Application filed January 13, 1916. Serial No. 71,848.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM O. NUss- BAUMER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of 'Waldo, in the county of Sheboygan and State of \Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Closures for Milk-Cans; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The present invention relates to new and useful. improvements in closures for receptacles, and is more particularly directed to the provision of a closure which may be secured over the mouth of a milk can or like receptacle.

In conveying cans of milk from the farm to the dairy or other depot, it is desirable to provide a closure or cap for the cans which may be very readily attached or detached, andwhich may be associated with the can in'such manner that both the cap and can mouth may be readily cleaned to render itsanitary.

In transporting milk in the manner set forth, the milk contains a considerable I amount of animal heat, and it is desired to provide a cap which is apertured to facilitate a desired dissipation of this heat, but which at the same time is so formed as to prevent splashing of the milk from the can and to prevent to a maximum degree the ingress of foreign matter into the can, and it is further the object of the invention to embody this advantageous feature in the present closure.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention resides more particularly in the novel combination, arrangement and formation of parts more particularly hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 designates the mouth portion of a milk can, with the improved closure cap secured thereto, this view being in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the can and the closure cap attached thereto. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the closure cap.

Referring .now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, 5 designates the neck portion of a milk can or similar receptacle having at its edge the usual bead'6. The improved closure cap comprises a disk 7 formedof rubber or other suitable flexible material and having its peripheral portion laterally. turned to form the securing flange 8 adapted to resiliently embrace the bead 6 I of the can mouth whereby the cap is secured in place. To facilitate application of the cap to the can, and its removal therefrom, the free edge of the flange 8 carries a finger tab 9 which is grasped in manipulating the cap. It is also noted that the free edge portion of the flange is thickened and preferably corded to strengthen the cap and to provide for -a more positive resilient gripping action.

To facilitate the escape of animal heat from the contents of the can, the body of the cap is taperingly enlarged on each side face in concave outline toward the axis of the cap, thus providing a thickened center portion, and formed transversely in this thickened center portion with its axis coincident to the axis of the cap is a vent opening 10 which has its end portions taperingly reduced whereby when the cap is distended on the can, the ends of the opening will be of sutficient diameter to provide for the desired air passage, but when the cap is removed from the can and consequently contracted, the ends of the opening will be substantially closed, to prevent the accidental introduction of any foreign matter. Thickening the central portion of the cap in concave outline performs two distinct functions. ening strengthens the cap adjacent the opening to prevent any possibility of a tearing enlargement of the opening such as would otherwiseoccur in practice. Secondly, this enlargement of the central cap portion forms deflecting cone shape projections, the projection on the top surface serving to deflect rain orother foreign matter away from the opening to prevent its ingress into the can, and the projection on the bottom face of the cap serving to deflect milk splashed against the cap in transportation of the can, to prevent escape of the milk, this latter function being enhanced through the relatively great length of the opening due to such thickening of the cap.

I claim: 1. A closure for milk cans and the like com rising a resilient disk having its edge portlon adapted for securement to the mouth of a receptacle, said disk being taperingly thickened on both sides in convex outline toward its axis and provided with a transverse opening coincident with its axis.

2. A closure for milk cans and the like In the first instance such thick- 1 comprising a resilient disk having its edge portion adapted for securement to the mouth of a receptacle, said disk being 'taperingly thickened on both sides in convex outline toward its axis and provided with a transverse opening coincident with its axis, the end portions of said opening being restricted.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Waldo, in the 10 county of Sheboygan and State of Wisconsin, in the presence of two Witnesses.

WM. 0. NUSSBAUMER.

Witnesses:

HENRY W. TIMMER, -DAVID HOLBROOK. 

